Another Month Down the Drain

Wow, I can not believe July is almost over.  I'm sitting at 220 miles for the month with one more training day left.  I am getting up early to run with the Muscle Milk gang at South Mountain.  I have a new hero that really got me thinking about trying 18X18X18 this weekend (18 beers/18 miles/18 hours), it may be a fun way to put in some extra miles after my little run with the Muscle Milk gang on Saturday.  I'm thinking of starting from work and doing it from 6pm-noon on Sunday, then recover after that.  I wonder if I can do it, and what type of beer would be best? 

Federal Service YES!!// The Year of the Flood by Margaret Atwood

I don't troll World Net Daily often, but I saw this article and was jumping up and down happy!  There is nothing wrong with serving our great country, whether it be in uniform or in a public service role.  I think more people will think twice about war if their children may have to serve!  

There is no other place I'd rather be than OCONUS sitting behind a M2 or 249B, but I still want people to think twice about what they are doing with our most precious recource.  Here is a great quote about war that I hold dear to my heart! 

A professional soldier understands that war means killing people, war means maiming people, war means families left without fathers and mothers. All you have to do is hold your first dying soldier in your arms and have that terribly futile feeling that his life is flowing out and you can't do anything about it. Then you understand the horror of war. Any soldier woth his salt should be antiwar. And still, there are things worth fighting for. - GEN H. Norman Schwarzkopf

I had a great running week last week with 59.7 miles and looking to get at least 50 this week too.  Today was so muggy that my 8 mile run this morning took me almost 80 minutes.  I had to stop and walk some.  Maybe I'll feel better tonight when I get a few more miles. 

I just finished another great book by Margaret Atwood, The Year of the Flood here is my Amazon review along with the great poem about the Longest Mile: 

Margaret did it again and in stunning fashion. I recently read Handmaid's Tale and thought it would be tough to beat that story, but this one did it hands down.

I'm a huge fan of dystopias, especially post modern stories that could easily be true.

The concept took our current green movement and wove it into the foundation for most of the main characters. Interwoven into this story Margaret introduces you into a world where corporations have taken over world governance and profits/greed fuel the engines of the world.

As one can expect an unregulated world devoid of a moral thread leads corporations to seek the ultimate goal of an immortal being. They get close, but at a huge cost to nearly every species. The waterless flood is the result of messing with the genes and it effectively cleanses the earth.

The ending leaves you wondering if the final voices are of other humans or if the last human's ears hear the singing of the new breed that inherits the Earth.

I'm also an ultra-runner and found this quote in the book and could not resist keeping this one on the tip of my tongue, even though in the book it refers to something much darker than the final miles of an 100 mile race, so unless you have been down that road you will wonder why I made the connection:

The Longest Mile

The last mile is the longest mile-
'Tis then we weaken;
We lose the strength to run the race,
We doubt Hope's beacon.

Shall we turn back from this dark Road,
Footsore and weary,
When deep Despair has drained our Faith,
And all seems dreary?

Shall we give up the narrow path,
The plodding byway-
Chose Swift transport and false delight:
Destruction's highway?

Shall Enemies erase our life,
Our Message bury?
And shall they quench in war and strife
The torch we carry?

Take heart, oh dusty Travellers:
Though you may falter,
Though you be felled along the way,
You'll reach the Altar.

Race on, race on, though eyes grow dim,
And faint the Chorus;
God gives us Nature's green applause-
Such will restore us.

For in the effort is the Goal,
'Tis thus we're treasured:
He knows us by our Pilgrim Soul-
'Tis thus we're measured.

From The God's Gardeners Oral Hymnbook

All in all I recommend this book fully and would put it on par with the likes of Brave New World, 1984, The Road, and Fahrenheit 451.

Tomorrow Starts Another Five Day Vacation - Tempe Town Lake Dam Bursts

I'm sitting pretty with 47 miles under my belt and at least one more run for the week, maybe more.  I'm planning on two days off while I'm home visiting my wonderful wife and kids. 

Big news for the athletic community here around Tempe.  The Lake is dry due to the dam bursting last night.  I bet there are a lot of Ironmen worried if it will be fixed and filled by November.  With a $500 entry fee paid for I too would be anxious when looking at a dry lake bed! 

Sole Sports 5K - 19:38 in my Vibram Five Fingers

Lot of fun today, ran in my five fingers at a local 5K, and I placed fourth out of about 100 runners.  It felt pretty good.  I'm sitting at 57 miles for the week; so so with my workouts, but pretty happy especially since it has only been seven days since my vasectomy; heard some real bad stories, but my experience has not been that bad. 

Please Run Sarah!

What an article stating that Palin may be seriously thinking of running. I know things may not be going perfectly for our current POTUS, but the best thing for fellow Democrats and those who believe in the direction that we are headed would be for her to run, and why not team up with the likes of Beck?

It is a hot one, but ready for a 5K tonight in my KSO's. 

Free 5K This weekend at new Sole Sports Location - $5 T-Shirt!

I'm always a sucker for a free or cheap race and the only thing going on the cheap is a 5K that is celebrating a new running store in Scottsdale!
View Larger Map
I'm still a little sore from the vasectomy, but I'll go out for some speedwork and to get the $5 Technical T-Shirt! There is also a 5K tomorrow night when I pick up all my stuff for running on the Muscle Milk team at the Mt. Lemmon Marathon. That is three races this year getting sponsored or a HUGE discount! I'll look more into these opportunities when I go to my next duty station.

Hard to believe that just now the final Badwater runners are completing their race.

I ran 7 miles this morning in what was a little over 90 degree heat and it felt so bad. I had to walk a good portion because I could not catch my breath, which is something I never have trouble with. I'll keep this under check, because it is really strange. Maybe the hot and humid weather or the 6 pack of beer late last night? I'll watch my diet more, but so surprised that I had trouble with breathing?

I go see the spine orthopedic on Monday to see what they have to say about my back. Funny how I'm feeling 100% better by the time I finally get an appointment and get scheduled in to see him.

Off to give platelets here in a few minutes.

Badwater Results! Jamie Donaldson Sets New Course Record!

The winners are already done with Badwater 2010.  Jamie from Colorado set a new course record by about 30 minutes and Zach Gingerich, 30,  from Illinois kicked it in just over 24 hours.  Jamie came in third overall! 

The Time Has Come!

Incredible article stating that the West has lost its AAA credit rating (as far as China is concerned).  It was just a matter of time before we have to admit the end of our reign as World leaders.    I am fine with this and hope that we can gracefully move into our new status and stop getting involved in everything bailing everyone out and sticking our nose in everyone elses  business.  Now it will be the moral responsibility of the new World Leaders to guide the World.  I don't see Canada spending money across the World like we do, nor do I see the terrorist attacks that we have suffered.  Now if we can just calm down and try to focus on important things like productivity and education.  We have a long way to go in order to catch up! 

Made it through the procedure! Q&A by Swarup

Well got the vasectomy taken care of  and just laid around the house with ice on my balls the whole weekend.  Today, I got in three miles in my KSO's in 29:50, with little pain in the balls.  I think I'm going to pull through this pretty well, but this weeks running will probably be shot.  Anyway, a small price to pay to make sure we have no more children and so my wife never has to deal with an unwanted pregnancy.  I was thinking about what a statement this is to my marriage, because if anything were to happen, I'm sure I'd want children with a new wife, but I trust my marriage will last forever, otherwise I would not have made such a decision!

Big weekend at Hardrock, and now I'm checking out the results of Badwater; they started this morning.

Read another easy reading fiction book called Q&A by Swarup; here is my review that I posted on Amazon:

Actually just grabbed this book at the library due to its size and attractive cover and did not know anything about the movie, but now that I have read some of the reviews I will have to go out and rent this movie in the near future.




Swarup weaved a funny and heart wrenching story that ended with a wonderful twist beyond the winning of a billion rupes! You will enjoy this quick read and gain some interesting trivia along the way.

In the recent past I have enjoyed some memoirs about people who have struggled in life such as mental problems, or addiction, but this work of fiction was written like a memoir of a poor boy in India. The writing was very convincing and satisfied my vayour instinct.



You will draw a close bond with Ram and be his cheerleader throughout this incredible book!

Vasectomy Tomorrow

Getting a government paid vasectomy tomorrow.  I think this picture depicts how it will be done, but at least they are putting me to sleep (a little overkill, but what the heck). 

I'm at 40 miles for the week, and not sure how much I'll run tonight or if I'll be able to run for the next couple of days after the simple surgery, so I may end up with a low week again. 

I got my KSO's yesterday and got two miles under my belt; they feel great!  I think I'll enjoy this new adventure! 

Day 23 Leaving Car at Home - Even new pick for World Cup - Spain

It has been awhile since I've been out for a run leaving my car at work but I did it last night.  I think I will cut that out though because it seems to put such extra stress on my back wearing the backpack for  the 3.8 miles.  I may be becoming the broken wimp that I fear most.  I sure hope my back holds out for a few more years so I don't get a profile or limited duty. 

Well Germany is out of the World Cup and I have to pick another team, which is now Spain.  It should be exciting come 11 July 2010.  I have been having a bad time picking champions this year, so maybe the Dutch will pull it out? 

Changing my pick for World Cup - Germany

Back at it again after a wonder five days of being home with my wife and kids over the Independence Day Holiday.  I'm now down to five weeks at work here in Phoenix then on to life in Sierra Vista.  I'm so ready for a change, even though I know it will not be that exciting in the big town of Sierra Vista/Ft. Huachuca. 

I'm signed up for a New 100 Mile Race call the Buckeye Endurance Race held on September 4-5.  It will be VERY hot since it is held in a suburb of Phoenix in the middle of the summer (high probably around 104), but if I play my cards correctly and keep moving for the whole 30 hours I should be able to obtain my goal of 100 miles.  No matter what happens it will be great training for the JJ100 in October!